Viking Ocean Cruises Makes it Six at Fincantieri

Viking Star, pictured here, was voted the Best New Cruise Ship of 2015 by Cruise Critic. Photo: Viking Ocean Cruises

The new ocean-going fleet of Viking Cruises will increase to six ships by 2020 with the company returning to Fincantieri for two additional newbuilds.

Fincantieri confirmed the two-ship contract on Wednesday from Viking Ocean Cruises, the new ocean-going unit of the river-cruise giant. Delivery of the two ships is scheduled for mid-2018 and by the end of 2020, Fincantieri said.

Viking Ocean Cruises has already ordered four ships from Fincantieri. The first ship, Viking Star, was delivered earlier this year and departed on its maiden voyage in May 2015, marking Viking’s entry into the ocean-going cruise market and the industry’s first entirely new cruise line in more than a decade. The second and third ships are scheduled for delivery in 2016 and 2017, while details on the fourth ship are still being worked out.

Fincantieri says that like the four ships ordered previously, the two new units will be about 47,800 gross tons and be able to accommodate 930 passengers (1,400 including crew) in 465 guest cabins.

Viking Cruises operates the world’s largest fleet of river cruise ships through the Viking River Cruises brand, having 35 vessels.

Fincantieri has built 70 cruise ships since 1990 (47 since 2002) and other 14 ships are currently being designed or built in the Group’s yards.

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